The
Army said it expects the first units to be equipped with the
glasses, called the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS),
by September 2022. Army officials had previously said that they
intended to "rapidly field the capability" in the Army's fiscal
year 2021, which ended on Sept. 30.
Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Defense industry publication Janes earlier this week reported
that the Army planned to halt the program. But on Thursday, the
Army said it had conducted some testing of the system last month
and that it "plans to execute testing regularly throughout" its
fiscal 2022.
The Pentagon's inspector general initiated an audit of the IVAS
system on Oct. 4 "to determine whether Army officials are
producing and fielding Integrated Visual Augmentation System
units that meet capability requirements and user needs", it
said.
The system integrates multiple technologies like night and
thermal vision as well as augmented reality from sensors to
provide a heads-up display that allows the soldier to fight,
rehearse, and train.
The Army said that this improves situational awareness, target
engagement, and the informed decision-making necessary in a
fight.
(Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Jan
Harvey)
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